Bold and Bright: Marc Jacobs Highliners Summer 2015

One of the most exciting features of my Sephora haul, for me, were the Marc Jacobs Highliners that I purchased from his Summer 2015 collection. If you remember my first Marc Jacobs feature here on Beauty Isles, you’ll know that the brand does not feature heavily in my collection. However, my love for the #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder really put his products on my radar. So much so that I walked away with not one, not two…but four of the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayons in the shades: In the Buff!, Sunset, Peridot and Blue Me Away.

Some time ago I’d tested the Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blacquer – which is the standard black eye liner. When the highliners were first released they received rave reviews for pigment and staying power. Indeed, that is the promise: “a waterproof gel crayon eyeliner that’s long wearing with intense color payoff”. Unfortunately Blackquer, though a beautifully intense, shiny black, didn’t quite give me the “extreme-wear” (on the waterline) that I was looking for. To be fair, I didn’t test it thoroughly (one wear) before returning. And since that time, I’ve heard reports of inconsistencies in performance within the same shade.

Despite this experience, I could not pass up the bold colors which characterized the ten new (and permanent) shades released for Summer. I was drawn in like a moth to the light. Especially considering how the brightness of these shades marks a departure from some of the more blackened tones he’d previously released.

Before I get into the individual swatches and reviews, some other facts: Each liner includes a built-in sharpener. Marc Jacobs promises a super-malleable formula that is like a gel pot eyeliner encased in a crayon, gliding on smoothly for flawless, precise application, that then sets in place for all-day wear.

Marc Jacobs Highliner – In the Buff (80)

In the Buff! is described as a champagne shimmer. When I first spied this shade, I thought of the nude liners used on the water line to “open up the eye”. I’d hope to use it in this same manner – a nude liner with some pizzaz on the account of the shimmer. And I have to say that though the effect is subtle, it does work in this manner. I needed about two-three passes to build the colour to desired intensity. Being a champagne, In the Buff is probably one of more versatile colors in the collection – i.e. inner corner/ brow bone highlight. Among the shades tested, it did fade soonest but still performed very well, wearing fully opaque for 7+ hours with no smudging or migration.

Marc Jacobs Highliner – Sunset (74)

Sunset is described as a golden bronze shimmer. It was previously released in a smaller size as part of a limited edition set and I’m quite sure it’s back by popular demand. A stunning copper bronze that I think would flatter every eye color, it is also extremely versatile. Sunset wore fully opaque for 10+ hours with no smudging or migration of any kind.

Marc Jacobs Highliner – Peridot (90)

Peridot is described as a sage-green shimmer. You all know of my obsession with green eye liners. I simply had to have this beautiful, golden green which is absolutely stunning on the eyes. The finish on Peridot is more metallic than the others and it delivered incredible pigmentation in one pass. I swiped twice for good measure and the product remained fully opaque with no smudging or migration for 16 hours! This is no exaggeration. I applied Peridot to the lower lash line/water line at 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning and it looked the same when I removed my makeup at 1:00 a.m.

Marc Jacobs Highliner – Blue Me Away (84)

Blue Me Away is described as light sky blue pearl. Unlike the previous three shades featured, it has a pearl finish rather than a shimmer finish which is apparent on the eye. You’ll probably be able to gather as much from the photo, but I had some trouble building this particular shade. I tried to swipe it across the lower lash line too many times. By the fourth pass, I noticed that the product started to break apart. One or two passes is the max, I think, with Blue Me Away – and you don’t really need much more than that with this intense baby blue. Staying power was also incredible with 16+ hours of fully opaque wear. (I wore this the same Saturday as Peridot. And yes, I walked around with green liner on one eye and blue liner on the other. Blogging dedication, lol.).

I wish my photos could do these eye liners justice because they really are beautiful. Pigmentation varied with Blue Me Away being the most pigmented in one swipe, followed by Sunset and Peridot. However, Sunset, Peridot and In the Buff, which are the three shimmers, layered and built much better. This probably doesn’t matter all that much considering that most would only require one pass of Blue Me Away to achieve the desired intensity anyway. Staying power and wear were excellent across the board. I should also note that with the shimmers I could not feel any “glitter” particles whatsoever. My Holy Grail black eye liner for the waterline is NARS Via Veneto but I just may have to give Blacquer another chance.

The Marc Jacobs Highliners retail for $25.00 USD and can be found on the company’s website and Sephora. They were a splurge, but I do recommend.

All products featured were purchased by the author. The thoughts and opinions expressed are the author’s alone. No affiliate links. For more information see Disclaimer here.

All items featured in this post were purchased by the author unless otherwise noted. Any products or services provided as PR will be marked with an asterisk "*". This website uses Skimlinks and this post may contain affiliate links.

OOOO aren’t these pretty! I find these a great idea also because they are pretty special bright colors that work well in summer! I do stick to gel liner most of the time tho, as I can use that on my upper lash line, upper waterline, as well as lower lash line. Pencil and liquid aren’t as versatile for my particular eye shape!

I never thought of it that way…with the gel liner being better for certain eye shapes. I tend to have trouble with gel myself but maybe that’s just because I don’t tend to use it all that much so I haven’t experimented enough. 🙂

I just came across your blog! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams, starts on Fridays at 9AM eastern time and runs until Wednesday night. 😀 Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.

Follow the Blogs You Love!

Subscribe to Beauty Isles on Wordpress

Join Beauty Isles on Social Media

Bloggers Might Want to Check Out…

Let’s have a little fun, shall we? This post is all about Things I’ve Googled Lately. Seem pointless? Maybe. The idea came to me while trying to reacquaint myself with Instagram. I hadn’t really been active on my social media accounts for several months and was, without much success, attempting an Instagram story. There was […]

February was a busy month for our family. Of course, there was our epic Disney vacation (which I’ve talked about here, here and here) but I had lots going at work as well. Between deadlines and Disney, I will admit that my weight watchers progress suffered a little bit. While I lost eight pounds during […]

One of the highlights of our trip to Walt Disney World was the Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom. Following a leisurely and delicious lunch, we had one of the best views of the famed Festival of Fantasy Parade or FOF, as it’s better known to Disney fans. As a family with a […]